Colorado River Authority of Utah

The Southwest megadrought that began in 2000 could continue until 2050 or maybe even the end of the century. That would mean tough choices for Utah and the Colorado River Basin.

Back in February, Amy Haas, executive director of the Colorado River Authority of Utah, said it would be "folly" for the seven Colorado River states to take their negotiations to court.

The Colorado River Authority of Utah board approved the first round of applicants for the state’s pilot program. It includes more than a dozen projects along Colorado River tributaries in eastern and southeastern Utah.

Utah is launching a new multimillion-dollar program that pays farmers to leave their irrigation water in the Colorado River — and tracks where that saved water ends up.

Even after a wet winter, the runoff that’s forecast to flow downstream in Utah’s Colorado River Basin looks underwhelming compared to snowpack levels.

A company spun out of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory began survey flights over the Uinta Mountains this year. Water managers are already using the data to manage Colorado River water wisely.

Founded in 1948 as a Jewish state, Israel had to find its own water. The country treats water as public property controlled by the state — there are no private water rights.

California officials say the state was not consulted as others that use water from the Colorado River drafted a six-state agreement to propose cutbacks. Representatives from Arizona, Utah and Colorado disagree.

The Bureau of Reclamation is responding to a request from Utah and its neighbors and suspending the releases from the 3rd-largest reservoir on the Colorado River that were propping up Lake Powell.

Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico are asking the Bureau of Reclamation to pause the water releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir that are helping prop up Lake Powell.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox appointed Tsosie to the newly-created position on Sept. 20, saying he will bring perspective on policies and knowledge of water law.